Map-reading and time-telling

 Sweat it out: Armageddon's geography and seasons

@the_steel_legion

Below is pictured Simon Smith's original map of Armageddon. You'll note that the compass has north pointing off to the upper left. 

Simon Smith

A Reddit user with the handle Themightygoatman posted up an awesome redrawn version of the map that took the projection lines and reoriented it:

themightygoatman

This elegantly explains a few things – such as why the Equatorial Jungles are so-called, despite running north to south on the original map. It also notes that Armageddon is tiny – just check that comparison to Ancient Terra! While all worked out very elegantly, for the sake of this project we'll be using Simon Smith's original map, and rethinking the scale to better match the pomp of the lore. 

With that in mind, if it's important to your writing or army background, here are a few conventions we'll be using for the project:

• Armageddon is slightly larger and denser than Terra – 44,202 miles in circumference – just enough to make travel suitably wearying and the gravity a hint more draining than our Earth. 
• Owing to unusual history, Armageddon's polar north and magnetic north do not align. We will be using the polar north, which (conveniently) makes north the top of the gameboard.
• The odd alignment and swinging magnetic pole mean that the planet suffers from extremes of climate – these result in a number of seasons:
• The Season of Shadows, when the volcanic mountains erupt. This covers game turn 1. 
• The Season of Storms, following on from the Season of Shadows. This covers game turns 2
• The Season of Fire, when temperatures outside the hive cities soar. This starts in game turn 3.

None of this information is critical – indeed, part of the fun of writing 40k is that Everything You Have Been Told is a Lie – so don't sweat this stuff too much. Use it if it's useful, ignore it if it's not. It's far more important that you enjoy painting and writing!

The reason these conventions are in use is partially practical, but also to lean into the 'sci-fi World War 2' feel of this period of Warhammer 40,000. Neither the Steel Legion nor Waa-Ghazghkull can rely on modern/near-future advantages like satellites, orbital support and reliable transport. The world of Armageddon is dirty, brutal and dangerous, and the Second War is fought mainly close-up, through blood and steel..

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